Police Arrest 54-Year-Old Woman for Faking Kidnap, Demanding ₦15m Ransom From Brother -

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 54-year-old woman, identified as Umadi, for allegedly staging her own kidnapping and demanding a ₦15 million ransom from her younger brother.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the incident was reported on October 23, 2026, at the Ogwashi-Uku Police Division after the woman allegedly contacted her brother, claiming she had been abducted by unknown gunmen.

She reportedly told her brother that her abductors were demanding ₦15 million for her release and threatened that they would kill her if the ransom was not paid.

Following the report, the Commissioner of Police directed operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Ubuluku, to investigate the alleged abduction and secure her release.

However, investigations reportedly revealed that the kidnapping was fabricated by the woman herself as part of an alleged attempt to extort money from her family.

During police interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to arranging the fake abduction and admitted demanding ₦15 million from her brother. She also claimed that she had been held captive for 12 days.

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SP Edafe expressed surprise over the incident, noting that previous cases of staged kidnapping encountered by the command had mostly involved teenagers and young people rather than someone in her 50s.

The police spokesperson commended the woman’s younger brother for reporting the incident to the authorities instead of attempting to handle the ransom demand privately.

He further disclosed that investigations suggested the suspect might not have acted alone, as some alleged accomplices had been identified and were being tracked for possible arrest.

The Delta State Police Command assured the public that investigations were ongoing and that all individuals allegedly involved in the scheme would be pursued.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over kidnapping and ransom-related crimes across Nigeria, with security agencies urging members of the public to report suspicious abduction claims and ransom demands promptly.